Sam Bankman-Fried's use of a VPN on Super Bowl Sunday 'raised concerns', say prosecutors

Prosecutors down the transgression lawsuit against erstwhile FTX main enforcement serviceman Sam Bankman-Fried person requested further clip to see the ineligible implications of him utilizing a virtual backstage network, oregon VPN.

In a Feb. 13 filing with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the Justice Department had uncovered that Bankman-Fried accessed the net connected Jan. 29 and Feb. 12 — the 2nd day being Super Bowl LVII. According to Williams, the government’s presumption was that utilizing a VPN “raises respective imaginable concerns”, citing examples of U.S.-based users accessing definite planetary crypto exchanges, and obscuring information from websites Bankman-Fried whitethorn beryllium visiting.

“A VPN allows information transfers without detection done a secure, encrypted transportation [and] is simply a much unafraid and covert method of accessing the acheronian web,” said the filing. “The defence maintains that the suspect was not utilizing a VPN for immoderate improper intent and has indicated that it would similar the accidental to prosecute successful discussions with the Government astir the issue.”

According to Mark Cohen of the instrumentality steadfast Cohen & Gresser — representing SBF successful the transgression lawsuit — the erstwhile FTX CEO utilized the VPN to ticker sports sum including the Super Bowl. He added that until the contented was resolved among lawyers, Bankman-Fried would not usage a VPN.

“On January 29, 2023, helium watched the AFC and NFC Championship games and connected February 12, helium watched the Super Bowl. This usage of a VPN does not implicate immoderate of the concerns raised by the Government successful its letter.”

FINAL: The @Chiefs are AFC Champions! #CINvsKC #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/YcN400duMM

— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2023

The tribunal papers suggested that Bankman-Fried’s ineligible squad was discussing whether the erstwhile FTX CEO’s usage of a VPN could beryllium included arsenic a information of his bail. Since SBF’s arrest, prosecutors person already asked the tribunal to restrict Bankman-Fried’s use of definite messaging apps and refrain from contacting existent oregon erstwhile FTX and Alameda Research employees. Both Bankman-Fried’s lawyers and U.S. prosecutors requested until Feb. 17 to sermon the interaction SBF utilizing a VPN could person connected his bail conditions.

Related: Sam Bankman-Fried seeks to entree FTX funds

Bankman-Fried’s transgression proceedings is scheduled to statesman successful October, erstwhile helium volition look 8 counts related to ligament fraud and violations of run concern laws. A justice ruled connected Feb. 13 that civilian cases SBF faces from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission will hold until the conclusion of the transgression case.